Drownings: Nearly 200 people have died in France since June, authorities call for respecting swimming bans

Health authorities called for compliance with swimming bans, warning of the risks associated with unsupervised sites, on Friday, August ¹ , as around 200 people, including 27 children and adolescents, have lost their lives by drowning in less than two months in France.

Between June ¹ and July 23, 193 deaths by drowning were recorded in mainland France and overseas, announced Public Health France , noting that high temperatures had "led to an influx of people to bathing areas to cool off."

This represents a 45% jump compared to the same period in 2024, when 133 deaths were recorded, the health agency details.

While this increase in fatal drownings affected all age groups, adolescents were particularly affected: 27 children and adolescents lost their lives in 2025 compared to 15 in 2024, and 30% of young people who drowned (13 to 17 years old) died, compared to 13% over the same period a year earlier.

Furthermore, from June ¹ to July 23, the health agency notes, the number of drownings of minors followed by deaths in waterways increased almost fourfold: 15 were recorded compared to four in 2024. Overall, drownings followed by deaths were recorded first at sea (79), followed by waterways (58), bodies of water (30) and private swimming pools (24).

Thus, the risk of drowning when swimming in natural environments, rivers, bodies of water or the sea, when the sites are neither developed nor supervised, "is real and increased in the event of alcohol consumption" , reminds Public Health France. "Regulations, in particular swimming bans, must be respected regardless of age" , insists the health agency.

Nearly half (47%) of the fatal drownings since June ¹ have occurred in four regions: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.